Digest

TABLE TENNIS

Super Shenzhen claims women's team title

Chen Meng

Star-studded Shenzhen lived up to expectations by defeating Shandong 3-1 in the women's final of the 2020 China Table Tennis Super League in Guangzhou on Tuesday.

With world-beaters Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha and Wang Yidi among their ranks, Shenzhen's triumph avenged a loss to Shandong in the tournament's first stage.

However, it looked like another shock might be on the cards when Wang and Sun lost their opening match 11-3, 13-11, 12-10 to Qian Tianyi and Chen Xingtong.

Shenzhen, though, rallied in the singles, with world No 1 Chen Meng beating Wang Manyu, Sun toppling Chen Xingtong and Wang Yidi overcoming Wang Manyu.

"We lost to Shandong in the first stage, so we just went out for a fight. Luckily we won," said Sun, who was voted the women's MVP.

Later on Tuesday, Olympic champion Ma Long bagged two points in the Shandong derby as Luneng overcame Weiqiao 3-1 in the men's final. Luneng's Wang Chuqin claimed the MVP honor.

WINTER OLYMPICS

Beijing 2022 confirms eight venues completed

Eight competition venues for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games have already been completed, the Beijing Major Projects Construction Headquarters Office said on Tuesday.

The eight venues are: The National Speed Skating Oval, the National Aquatics Center, the National Indoor Stadium, the Capital Gymnasium, the Wukesong Ice Sports Center, and the Shougang Ski Jumping Platform, all in downtown Beijing; the National Alpine Skiing Center and National Sliding Center in the city's northwest Yanqing suburb.

The construction and renovation of all non-competition venues in Beijing and Yanqing is set to be completed before July 2021.

BASKETBALL

Grizzlies reeling from Morant ankle injury

Ja Morant

Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant is expected to miss three to five weeks with a sprained left ankle, the Memphis Grizzlies said Tuesday.

The young Grizzlies star was hurt minutes before halftime in the win over the Brooklyn Nets, when he rose to try to block a shot by Nets forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and came down on Luwawu-Cabarrot's foot.

"Further imaging revealed a Grad 2 ankle sprain, with an expected recovery time of three to five weeks," the Grizzlies said in a statement.

Morant was clearly in pain as he hopped off the court, falling to the floor just beyond the baseline. He was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. He later returned to sit courtside with a protective boot on his injured ankle, enthusiastically encouraging teammates as they pulled off a 116-111 overtime win over Kevin Durant's Nets.

"A moment like that can really test you," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said of the moment Morant went down.

Milwaukee nets 3-point record in Miami rout

The Milwaukee Bucks made an NBA record 29 3-pointers while routing the host Miami Heat 144-97 in a wire-to-wire victory on Tuesday night.

The Bucks shot 56.9 percent from long distance (29-for-51) and got 3-pointers from 12 different players－everyone who saw the court except for two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The old NBA mark of 27 3-pointers was set by the Houston Rockets on April 7, 2019, against the Phoenix Suns.

The Heat, who eliminated the Bucks in five games in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals, will get a rematch with Milwaukee on Wednesday night when the teams meet again in Miami.

Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 25 points while going 4-for-5 on 3-point attempts. Jrue Holiday added 24 points and hit 6 of 10 from long range.

Antetokounmpo had a rather easy night, playing 24 minutes and providing nine points, six assists and six rebounds. He missed both of his 3-point attempts.

The scoreline was a complete flip for Milwaukee, which had lost 130-110 to the Knicks on Sunday, with New York hitting 16 of 27 3-point attempts.

SKIING

Shiffrin slips as Gisin swoops for first win

Mikaela Shiffrin

American Mikaela Shiffrin failed to capitalize on her first-run lead in the World Cup slalom at Semmering, Austria on Tuesday, finishing third after a floodlit second run.

Swiss rival Michelle Gisin grabbed a surprise victory with a combined time of 1 minute 42.05 seconds as Austrian Katharina Liensberger came second at 0.11 sec and Shiffrin slipped to third, 0.57 sec off the pace.

Petra Vlhova finished fourth but retained the overall World Cup lead. Vlhova and Shiffrin had won the past 28 World Cup slalom races between them.

"I have stopped a series of wins from two giants, and it's my first World Cup win in eight years, so I feel amazing," said all-rounder Gisin.

The victory marked the 27-year-old Gisin's first World Cup win but she did win the 2018 combined Olympic gold in terrible conditions in South Korea.

Shiffrin, a three-time overall World Cup winner, is seeking a 68th World Cup victory which would move her ahead of Austria's Marcel Hirscher into third on the all-time winners' list.

Xinhua - Agencies